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Yankees Looking To Dig Deeper Hole For Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are coming to Yankee Stadium for a four game series against the Yankees starting tonight.

The Boston Red Sox are coming to Yankee Stadium for a four game series against the Yankees starting tonight.

Despite winning seven of their last ten games, the Red Sox remain six games behind the Yankees who are sitting atop the American League East standings. They are a team however that has the potential to get hot and put even more pressure on the Yankees. As it is now, the Tampa Bay Rays are right on the Yankees heels, just a half game back.

Of course every game from hear on out means a lot. The Yankees need to win and win often to keep pace with the Rays. This is a big four game series. A sweep either way would drastically change the standings.

Boston stood still for the most part as the trade deadline passed while the Yankees made three veteran additions. Both teams have had some injury issues this season, but Boston inparticular has gotten the worst of it. The recent news of first baseman Kevin Youkilis needing season ending surgery is a big blow to Boston.

New York would love to push the Red Sox further back in the standings. That would allow them to only worry about one team catching them. Boston is looking to get back in the race for the division as well as the wild card.

The series opener tonight could have the best pitching matchup. Clay Buchholz has been the Boston ace this season. He is 11-5 with a 2.59 ERA. The Yankees will send Javier Vazquez to the mound. The right is 9-7 this season with a 4.61 ERA.  He has been very solid in his past ten starts, compiling a 3.50 ERA in those starts. The Yankees have been able to get to Buchholz in the past. The Boston starter is 0-2 with a 6.53 ERA in his career against New York.

Saturday’s pitching matchup is just a good, if not better. In his first season in Boston, John Lackey is 10-6 with a 4.48 ERA. CC Sabathia will bring his 13-5 record to the mound. He sports a 3.19 ERA this year. The big lefty has struggled against the Red Sox this season, unable to throw a quality start or record a win against them. Lackey will be making his first start at Yankee Stadium since Game 1 of the 2009 ALCS.

A.J. Burnett will pitch on Sunday, going up against Josh Beckett for the Red Sox. Beckett has been excellent since coming off the disabled list, going 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in three starts. Burnett continues to frustrate Yankees fans this season. The right has been extremely inconsistent. Burnett has a 9-9 record with a 4.93 ERA. New York expects Burnett to pitch better than that.

The Yankees will likely send Dustin Moseley to the mound on Monday to take on Jon Lester in the series finale. Moseley is still manning Andy Pettitte’s spot in the rotation. Pettitte is working his way back from an injury. Lester has struggled since the all-star break, sporting an ERA over five.

It’s Yankees / Red Sox, with a lot on the line. Intriguing pitching matchups, very good lineups. A four game series you will not want to miss!

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